Does anyone keep chickens?

I don’t keep chickens now, but I grew up around chickens kept by neighbours, relatives etc. I do know that if you give them too many scraps the shells get soft, and if the chickens are very young or elderly the same happens.

Assuming that they are in good health perhaps the calcium balance is wrong?

Assuming it's not a calcium deficiency, are they getting stressed for any reason? Do you have predatory foxes around or even a rat?

Crushed calcium is probably best, though. I remember my mother saying "they need grit" but I never asked what 'grit" was as a child.
I found this online:
Grit: Ensure they have access to grit to digest food properly
At 2 years old they should still be good layers.

Egg drop syndrome?

butterandjam

Egg drop syndrome?

I don't think so. They haven't been near anything that they could have caught it from.
They are permanently in a run rather than free range. There are foxes around but no sign of them trying to access the run
Other than the egg problem they appear to be in excellent health

How many layers pellets are you giving them 80% 50% or 20% they wont lay eggs properly on mostly corn

How long have they been laying ?

Have they moulted which they need to do after a year laying. After a few weeks feed them laying pellets and they should start laying again. But modern hens are bred to lay for one year, they will lay some eggs as they get older but will cost a great deal to feed.

Yes, they might be getting old.

But have they got enough grit to peck at if they are in a pen? You can buy grit combined with oyster shells for added calcium.

They are fed mainly layers pellets with just a bit of corn late afternoon.
They lost some feathers but have always looked in good condition and carried on laying virtually every day . I've had them for 2 years - they were pullets when I got them.
They have a constant supply of a mixture of grit and oyster shell

Feed then corn only they will stop laying and moult

I used to keep chickens and when this happened to mine I gave them olive oil in with their feed. It helps them to digest their food better.

I don't keep chickens due to the fox population where I live.
I'm also really chicken at eithanising them.
Too many scraps stops them eating the correct food.
Dehydration will cause weak shells .

Do you have any ponds near you ?
We do.
They are very pretty and much admired but
it's another reason why my neighbours aren't so keen on keeping chikckens due to the virus transferred by ducks - the egg drop syndrome.

I keep chickens only one left now,and she is a speckledy.She is now six years old and still laying,she occasionally pops out a soft shell,not often.As well as layers pellets,we give meal worms, golden lay and spinach or lettuce and for a treat she has a slice of granary bread.Hope your problem is soon overcome.

I have been keeping chickens for over 20 years. you could try adding cod liver oil to their pellets to aid calcium absorption. From what I remember the dose was 1 tablespoon to 1kg of feed but you would need to check this. There are some very good websites with forums about egg laying and associated problems, one of them being Backyard Chickens. I hope the problem resolves soon, I hate it when any of my chooks aren't right.

eddiecat78- how are the chickens getting on?

We had rescued chickens and I used to grind up the eggshells (inside skin removed first) and scatter it with their food. It seemed to help

NannyPT

eddiecat78- how are the chickens getting on?

No better I'm afraid. I haven't tried adding oil to her feed yet. She's now laying a soft shell egg then eating the inside! I'm sure she's just doing it to annoy me.
She and her sister both look very well and are eating and drinking normally . I've just picked her up and checked her over and there are no signs of any problems.

eddiecat78

NannyPT

eddiecat78- how are the chickens getting on?

No better I'm afraid. I haven't tried adding oil to her feed yet. She's now laying a soft shell egg then eating the inside! I'm sure she's just doing it to annoy me.
She and her sister both look very well and are eating and drinking normally . I've just picked her up and checked her over and there are no signs of any problems.

Did you have them from chicks or could they be older than you think?

Allira Not chicks but young pullets. It was quite a while before they started laying

Oh, so you know their age.

It's a mystery, unless it is as butterandjam suggested.

Thinking about what was suggested for soft, peeling fingernails (is there a connection?), I wonder if adding zinc to their diet might help? Not sure what form you need for poultry.

Another sign that cod liver oil is needed in the hens feed is that if the eggs laid by the others begin to feel chalky and rough on the outside.

If mostly layers pellets are being fed there shouldn't be a shortage of vitamins and minerals, they are formulated for hens that lay every day.
Look for other causes.